cp - Unix, Linux Command

NAME

cp - To copy one or more files to another location.

SYNOPSIS

cp [options]... Source Dest
cp [options]... Source... Directory

DESCRIPTION

By default, sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude heuristic and the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well. That is the behavior selected by --sparse=auto. Specify --sparse=always to create a sparse DEST file whenever the SOURCE file contains a long enough sequence of zero bytes. Use --sparse=never to inhibit creation of sparse files.

The backup suffix is >, unless set with SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control can be set with VERSION_CONTROL, values are: t, numbered make numbered backups nil, existing numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise never, simple always make simple backups. As a special case, cp makes a backup of SOURCE when the force and backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name for an existing, regular file.

OPTIONS

Tag

Description

-a, --archive

same as -dpR

-b, --backup

make backup before removal

-d, --no-dereference

preserve links

-f, --force

remove existing destinations, never prompt

-i, --interactive

prompt before overwrite

-l, --link

link files instead of copying

-p, --preserve

preserve file attributes if possible

-P, --parents

append source path to DIRECTORY

-r

copy recursively, non-directories as files

--sparse=WHEN

control creation of sparse files

-R, --recursive

copy directories recursively

-s, --symbolic-link

make symbolic links instead of copying

-S, --suffix=SUFFIX

override the usual backup suffix

-u, --update

copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing

-v, --verbose

explain what is being done

-V, --version-control=WORD

override the usual version control

-x, --one-file-system

stay on this file system

--help

display this help and exit

--version

output version information and exit.

EXAMPLES

Copy sample.txt to sample.bak.

$ cat sample.txt
This is a sample file
$ cp sample.txt sample.bak
$ cat sample.bak
This is a sample file